Self-playing grand piano.



J. W. DARLEY, JR. SELF PLAYING GRAND PIANO.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 9, 1906.

Patented Oct. 13, 1908.

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J. DARLEY, JR- SELF PLAYING GRAND PIANO.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 9, 1906.

Patented 0013. 13, 1908. 9 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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J. DARLEY, JR. SELF PLAYING GRAND PIANO. APPLIOATION FILED JULYQ, 1906.

Patented Oct. 13, 1908.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 5 Uonoooooooooo Witwgweo J. W. DARLEY, JR. SELF PLAYING GRAND PIANO. APPLICATION FILED JULY 9, 1906.

Patented Oct. 13, 1908.

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APPLICATION FILED JULY 9, 1906, x 901 ,28 1,, Patented Oct. 13, 1908.

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J. W. DARLEY, JR. SELF PLAYING GRAND PIANO. APPLICATION FILED JULY 9, 1906.

Patented 001 113.1908.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 8. I

I m M J. W. HARLEY, JR.

SELF PLAYING GRAND PIANO.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 9,1906.

901 ,281 I Patented Oct. 13, 1908.

9 SHEETSSHEET 9.

wi/bmeooeo self-playing grand pianos,

' view of the such as will enable others skilled in the art to other end view of the casing shown in Fig. 8,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. A JOHN W. DARLEY, JR, OFBALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO ERNEST J. KNABE, 1a.,

' or BALTIMORE, MARYLAND. V

SELF-PLAYING GRAND PIANO.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed July 9, 1906. Serial No. 325,409.

No. 901,281. Patented Oct. 13, 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN W.DARLEY, J r. a citizen of the United States, residing at Bal: timore city, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self-Playing Grand Pianos; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,

a small scale, showing how the lid of the piano is raised and supported. Fig. 18 is a side view'of the same. Fig. 19 shows the arrangement of the pneumatic pedals and their connections. Fig. 20 shows the left leg and supporting casting therein, and Fig. 21 is a cross section of the same. connection between some of the parts.

a represents the casing of a which it appertains to make and use the provided with a hinged lid 1), the front part same. of which lid, 0, is also hinged to the rear lid, My invention relates to improvements in and the supporting legs d, these'partsbeing that may be opof the usual construct-ion. The erated either by pneumatic means, or by hand, or both, as desired.

The object of my invention is to produce a grand piano capable of being operated by pneumatic action, or by hand, and one that is compact in structure, keeping the generally accepted form of a grand piano, and easily operated.

With this object in view, my invention consists in the construction and combinations of parts as hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of a grandpiano embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a front view of the same, some of the interior mechanism being shown in dottedlines- Fig, 3 is a top plan view of the front part of the piano with. the lid and the top of the casing removed. Fig.- 4: is a vertical central section of the front of the piano, parts being shown in full lines. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of one end of the pneumatic box or action case. Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the-same. Fig. 7 IS an end view of said box with the end removed. Fig. 8 is an end view of the casing inclosing the bellows, the rerolling and tempo mechanism, the operating handles and showing the spring joint of the air ducts. Fig. 9 is anpiano is also and any approved representing rubber buffers to keep the parts 79 projecting from the upper casing pass into holes in the front 0, when itis in the inclined position and retain it in place.

Within the box is are located the music rolls 7 and s, and the tracker board .t con-- nected by tubes u with the pneumatic portion of the apparatus. .Thebox k, containing the music rolls, is only the front part of a larger box '2), a'partition to se arating the music roll portion from the This box contains the tubes u, already referred to, leading to the tracker board. These tubes all run backward and pass into a header m, and this large box '0 is hinged at g to the piano case, so that the entire box o can fold backward about the hinges y when the lid is open, so thataccess may be had to the tuning pins 1 for tuning the strings.

The pneumatic and run over a plate in the-central part of the box 1;;

the spring joint being omitted. Fig. 10 is a vertical section on the line 10-1(), of Fig. 3, looking opposite to the direction of the arrow'si Fig. 11 is a section on the same line, looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 12 is a vertical section on the line 12-42 of Fig. 3, looking in the direct-ion of the arrows. Fig. 13 is a section onthe line 13-13 of Fig.3. Fig. 1a is a side view of the motor governor and gate box. Fig. 15 is a side folding means for holding up the front of the piano. Fig. '16 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 17 is a front view, 0115 of course, provided at the bottom of the Fig. 22 shows the grand piano shown in inclined dotted lines, Fig. 11, p

from being scratched or marred. Small pins ox proper.

tubes u converge together in the rear of this box, and un-. derneath the sides of the tubes are the pumpprovided with the usual sounding board e,

, the air by the valves passage 8 in the coupling member 9, which" coupling member is 10 of leather, vent the air from escaping. The air passage 12 leads into the air trunk 13, the ends of the passages 8 and. 12 simply fitting against each other. To insure a tight fit, I have provided the means shown in Fig. 8, in which 14 represents of the trunk 13, and 15 provided with a facing another flange paral lel thereto connected therewith by means oi screws 16. Springs 17 tend to press the coupling member 15 against the coupling member 9. The portion 18 of the walls of the passage 12 is made flexible so as to permit of the movement of the coupling member 15, that when the box 22 is folded down into the position shown in its normal position, a tight joint will be formed between the coupling members 9 and 15 by means of the packing 10.

The action of the pumpers 3 is to produce a partial vacuum in the pneumatic box 14, passing upward through the passage 13 into the pumpers as hereinafter described. The air which passes outward into the box 1; passes out through the holes 15 into the inside of the piano. The pneumatic box is shown in side elevation in Fig. i, in top plan view in Fig. 5, and in Fig. 6 in front elevation with the front cover removed. The pneumatic box 141 is in the main of the ordinary construction, but instead of having the valves, primary and secondary pneumatics, commuting passages and choking devices underneath the main pncuinatics, which would make a very large rangemcnt, locate as shown in Fig. 7. portance in a and clumsy looking arthese behind the same, This is of especial im grand piano, as otherwise this portion. of the pneitunatic apparatus would be too prominently di and on the side.

The pneumatic valves and passages, therefore, will not be further described, they are of the ordinary type. It may merely be said that the air, when a perforation in the music roll passes over one of the ends of the tubes u splayed in the front in the tracker board, is sucked in through the tubes at and passes down through the tubes 29 and ldconnecting therewith, and and passages shown in Fig. 7' communicates with the interior or the phon box in the usual way.

I To leinovably. secure the pneumatic boninfelt or similar material to pro a flange on the end Fig. 8, which is.

box, choking devices,

'into a header 25,

piano frame, I provide two ribs 17 on the front and upper edge thereof, which fit into correspondingly shaped recesses 18 in the part 1!), which is screwed or otherwise secured to the key bottom 20. The rear of the box is secured to the key bottom by screws 21, passing through holes 22, and at the other rear corner by a screw passing through a casting 23, secured to the box 14 shown in Fig. 1.

The tubes 29 pass into a header 24:, Fig. 4, located immediately beneath the header .0, the tubes u and 29, of course, registering with each other, and a packing being pro vided between the headers 24 and Similarly the lower ends position on the which is adjustably secured to the key bottom 20, by means of screws 26, which pass through slots in the header. The header 25 is just over the corresponding header 27, which is attached thereto by screws 28,an air excluding packing'being located between the headers. In fact wherever necessary, packing is used. 16 pass into the header 27, and their ends register with the ends of the tubes 29. The header 27 is of about the same length as the header a, and is located nearly underneath it. The header 2:3 is located directly above the header 2?, and the pipes 29 diverge, half towards each side, and. pass upward near the sides of the piano. as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, and then converge again into the header 24-, being then contained in a box 30 located immediately underneath the header 24.

In building a selt'playing piano it is, of course, highly desirable not to increase the length or width of a commonly employed frame, as this would involve considerable extra expense. Provision must therefore be made for an extra amount of room on the left to accommodate the left hand end of the pneumatic box in order to afford space .for the operation of the pneumatically operated levers, which actuate the piano action. Provision is shown for this extra space in Figs. 20 and 21.

A metal casting 31 is provided for the re ception of the left hand end of the pneumatic box, and the left hand leg (Z is built up around this casting, as shown in Fig. 20. This casting 31 is provided with a downwardly projecting pin 32, into a corresponding depression in the leg (I. Screws 33 pass through the casting 31 into the piano leg in various positions, as shown in Fig. 20. The casting 31 is provided with lugs 34, which dovetail into a metal plate (not shown) let into the bottom of the piano, and a screw 35, which passes through a hole 3b is the leg d, then secures the leg i position with the casting therein, the leg .l the casting being, of course, removable, for the purpose of shipment. This gives an extra which projects The tubes space on the left hand end of the piano into which the left hand end of the pneumatic box may be slipped, and providing means for its easy removal. The right hand and the rear legs are secured in place by dovetails and screws in the usual manner.

The key bottom 20 is cut away, as shown at 37, to afford clearance space 37. This is necessary for the accommodation of the parts which actuate the piano action, but this clearance space 37 is extended to the rear in order to afford space for the easy removal of the pneumatic box 14 and the" parts connected thereto.

One object of my invention is to economize space, and preserve the ordinary attractive appearance of a grand piano. To this end it is necessary to economize every available inch of space, and in Figs. 3 and 4 is shown an arrangement made with this end in view. The pipes u, as shown in 3, converge from the header 00 into a small space, being supported by the board 2. The tubes v.1. thence curve down and around the curved partition w above which is located the spool. The board 2 is provided with side flanges 38, which serve to keep the tubes u in place, and

-which pass forward and form the sides of the box portion in which the music rolls are placed.

39 is the motor for driving the music roll or spool, which is of the usual construction, and which operates to unroll or reroll the music in the usual way. Sometimes it is desirable to use narrow sheets of music. This would necessitate closing up the, extra holes in the tracker board, but I eter to render said holes inoperative by the means shown in Figs. 3 and 12. f The tubes on the outer ends of the header 0", a few on each side, instead of communibating directly with the tracker board, are bent, as shown at 40, in Fig. 12, and run into a header 41, which is secured to one of the side flanges 38 by the angle iron 42. These tubes coming from the header 00 are shown at 45. To the header 41 is slidably attached a sliding valve 43 provided with grooves for establishing communication between each of the pipes 4-4 and the correspending pipe 45, and for terminating said communication when desired to operate with a narrow. roll of music. This device being old and well known in the art will not be further illustrated or described. L

Vhen the valve 43 is open each of the tubes 45 communicates through it with one of the tubes 44, which latterlead to acorresponding hole on the tracker board; thus byclosing the valves 43, a few holes on each.

end ofthe tracker board can be rendered inoperative.

Extending entirely underneath the pumpers 3 is an air trim: is delivered through the passage 8, as al- 48, into which the airready described, and from-which it passes into the pumpers 3 From this trunk a connecting trunk 49, shown in section in Fig.

13, leads into the equalizer 50 through the aperture 51. A spring 52, which has a tendency to keep the vacuum in all parts of the apparatusconnected with the air trunk at a substantially constant pressure, is provided.

The operation of the motor governor and controlling handles therefor, will next be described. In the position shown in Fig. 3,

the parts are arranged for rerolling. Refer-ring to Fig. 12, 53 represents a vertical partition or septum, through which passes an air duct 54, which leads from the air trunk 49 to the chamber 55, shown in dotted linesin Fig. 3, to which the air passes freely through the opening 56 from the box 57, into which it comes through the duct 58 from the air trunk 59, and through the latter through the air duct 60 from the motor 39.

Under rerolling conditions there is a free passage for the air in the course just named to the air trunk 49 from the motor 39, it being understood, of course, that said motor is a vacuum motor. A valve 61 is provided for the purpose of closing the opening 56, but in the act of rerolling this valve is held open, as shown in Fig. 3, by the following means. To the rerolling handle 62 is connected a rod 63, the end of which is slidably supported in the block 64 attached to the base of the box 1;. This rod carries a bent arm 65, which operates by a rod or wire 66 on the valve 61, and in the position shown in Fig. 3 everything is ready for rerolling.

In the playing position the handle 62 is moved to the right, whereupon the valve 61 closes the opening 5'6, thus constraining the air to pass through the regulator valve and the tempo valve. The rod 63 also extends over to the left of the box 70, and its end is pivoted to a lever 67, the other end of which is pivoted at 68 to a part of the box *0. This lever is provided with a pin 69, which ensages to shift the clutch mechanism to the rolling or rerolling position in the usual manner. At the rear of the lever 67 it carries a projecting portion forming a bell crank, which bell crank portion is provided with an upwardly extending pin 71. On the top of the pin 71 is pivoted a link 72, which passes loosely through the holes in the brake levers 73 and 74, which are pivoted in the forked with the shifting mechanism 70, so as bearings 75 and 7 6, secured to the box 1).

These levers carry brake shoes 77' and 78,.

of the spool and the chuck of the music roll.

Each of the brake levers73 and, 74 is kept in position on the link 7 2 by means of pins 81, and springs 82. i

It is obvious from the construction shown,

see especially Fig. 1 1, that when the link T2 is moved in one direction, as for rerolling, the brake lever M will he moved by one of the pins 81 so as to disengage the brake shoe 7% from the part 80, thus allowing the music roll to revolve freely 'hile one of the springs 82 will bring the friction upon the drum 79, thus keeping the paper taut. 'lhe reverse, of course, is true when the handle (52 is shifted to the playing position.

Of course, while the rerolling is going on, it is essential that the connection between the air trunk t8 and the pneumatic box should be cut oil in order to prevent the the motor The sprlng playing during the rerolling, and this is accomplished in the following manner. The rod 63 has pivoted to its right hand end a link 83, Fig. 2, and the other end of this link is pivot-ally mounted in a block 8% on one end of the lever 85 pivoted on the inn side of the right hand end of the box 0, at

The other with a link 87, which extends through a bushed hole in the top of the air trunk 48, immediately over a valve 88. The valve 88 is pivoted, as shown at 89, and a spring (not shown) normally holds said valve up against the lower end of the link 87. In other words, when the link is up in the position shownin Fig. 9, the valve 88 is closed. I

To shift from the rerolling to the playing position,'the handle 62 is moved to the right from the position shown in Fig. 3. This action forces the link 87 down against the valve 88 opening it, at the same time swing ing' the lever 67 from the rerolling position to the playing position, and shifting the po sition of the brake shoes 7'? and '78. It also shifts the clutch mechanism so that the action of the motor drives the spool instead of the music roll. At the same time the arm ismoved to the right allowing the wire 66 to move in the same direction, whereupon the valve 61 closes the opening 56 by means of the spring attached thereto. The air then coming in through the trunks 60 and 55' passes through the passage 58 into the charm ber 57, in which is located the tempo valve through the port of which the air passes into governor 90, shown in Fig. 141-. bearing against the valve 88 by the connections described would naturz'illy tend to throw the rod 63 over into the po i-- tion shown in Fig. 3. To counteract this tendency, the parts are so arranged that when the rod 63 is moved over to the right, it carries the lower end of the link 8311cyond the pivotal point of thehlock into which the upper end of the link 83 passes, so that in that position the playing position;

In the bottom of the chamber 5? is located the tempo Valve 91, and a spring 92 nor mally holds said tempo valve against the.

end of this lever is provided tendency of the, spring would be to hold the handle 62 in the l l l l bottom oi the chamber. A. slot 93 is the bottom of the chamber of which is covered by cording to its position. It is evident that thesinallcr the hole the more resistance the air will meet as it passes through said valve port, and consequently the higher the pressure will he in. the air trunk 59, and the slower the motion of the music spool will he. The tempo valve is regulated in its position by means of av wire or rod 9 l connected to an arm 95, which in turn is connected to a. rod 96 terminating in a handle 9'? moving over a graduated scale 98 at the front of the piano. The other end of the wire or rod 96 passes through a bearing in the block B l, and said wire or rod also has a bearing in the side piece The handles (52 and 97, the connection between them, and the operating parts already described, are located within the box, c, which, as before said, may be folded back. This males the C(il'lIlBC'tlOllS much more simple, and as these handles are only operated when a new piece of music is to be inserted into the piano, it is not necessary that they should be located near the handles, which are necessary in the ordinary playingoi. the piano.

Referring now to Fig. 14:, the bottom of the motor governor 90 has a. hinged bottom 100 and flexible sides 101, and a flexible end 102. a spring 103 tending to keep the hottom .100 normally in the position shown in Fig. The tension of the spring 103 may be adjusted by means of the screw 1.04:, and this spring 103 normally tent s to throw the bottom down, while the pressure of the ere ternal air. when there is a partial vacz'uun inside of the governor, tends to throw it i To the bottom 100 is pivotally attached a. link 1013, the, upper end of which is pivotally connected to a hinged valve 106. which governs the degree or pressure of the partial out 111 57, more or less the tempo valve, ac-

\2 mun inside the motor governor, keeping it practically constant, the valve 106 mov ing rapidly up and down accordii'ip; as the pressin'e varies in the main air trunk. The air during the playing" passes from the motor through trunks 59 and 60 and the port 58 into the box 57,, through the slot 93 governed by the tempo valve 91, into the regulator hellows or gmernor 90; then through the port 107,, governed by the regulating valve 106 into the box and tlience to the haust. the purpose of iihrasing, positively operating in both directions on the movable hottom 100 of the motor governor. These means are follow in the liroiiit oi" the he, hottom of the piano is a vil'n'atory lever 108, which is centrally pivoted and-is provided with a depending tempo coinhuts 54 and ll) on to the main exl have provided separate means for .rivoted in a recess link 109, the lower end of which is connected to the upturned end of a bent lever 110, which is nearly concealed in a recess cut in the front portion of the key bottom. The lever 110 after being bent downwardly and backwardly, as shown in Fig. 4,. has a horizontal portion 111, bent at right angles to the plane of the lever portion, and to the other end of this portion 111 is a rearwardly extending portion 112, Fig. 4, the inner end of which is pivoted to an upwardly extending link 113. The upper end of the link 113 is pivotally connected to a lever 114, which is mounted on ascrew 115 on the .inside of the right hand portion of the casing-of the piano. This screw or pivot pin 115 is concentric with the shaft 116, which passes in nearly to the part 38, it then being bent forward and terminating in a right angled'portion 118, which is connected by a link117 to the bottom of the motor governor 90.

The shaft 116 is mounted. in brackets 119, i

on the septum 53, one of these being shown in. Fig. 8.. The movement of the rod 113 causes a rocking movement of the shaft 116 in the following manner. Keyed to the shaft 116 is a horizontal arm 120, the ends of which are provided with projecting pins 121 and 122. These pins rest upon portions cut out from the lever 114, so that the movement of the link 113 either up or down will produce a corresponding movement of the arm 120, thereby partially rotating the shaft 116 either forward or backward.

The box a is pivotally mounted in the front of the piano case, and the. pins 121 and 122 loosely rest upon the lever 114, so

"that as the box 41 is folded backwards to the position shown in Fig. 18, the arm 120 and lever 114 will separatefrom each other without disconnecting any of the parts. As previously stated the box a) may be folded back so as to allow the tuner to reach the interior parts of the piano,and. when folded 'back it assumes the position shown in Fig.

18. In Fig. 17 is shown the means for securing the piano lid in position when it is folded back. in the-top of the piano frame and is adapted to rest in a socket 124 on the underside of the lid, as shown in. dotted lines in Fig. 17. In a-cut'away portion of the stick 123 ispivoted. a wire 125 having a hooked end 126 adapted to fit in a hole in the pocket 124.- -Under ordinary conditions the wire is folded down, as shown in Figs. 15 and 16. When, however, it is desired to-throw the piano lid back as far as possible, in order to provide room for the lifting of the box a), the rod. 125 is swung'outwards and the hooked: end.

thereof engaged in the hole in the socket 124,.

[as shown in fulllines in Fig. 17. The box '1), however, is, under ordinary conditions, locked down n the position shown in Figs.

' ward, the

Lthe pneumaticepparatus. lpushers, which pass through bushed holes ,in 'the key bottom, and which always re- 3 and 4, by means of pivoted latches 127 pressed outward by springs 128, the latch on the right hand side of Fig. 2 being omitted. The latches have their tops projecting outward, and engaging castings of brass, or other metal 129, let into recesses in the casing of the piano. Each of these cast ings has a cut. away portion-130 large enough to admit a fingen, The latches are prevented from being driven by'the springs 128 too] far outward by means of pins 131 securely fastened therein, which are longer than the width of the slots in the box o, in which slots said latches move freely. The upper part of the latches 127 is flush with the tops of the castings 129, which castings are cut away, as shown at 130. By pressing the latches in sidewise, the box '0 is: released and can be tilted-backwards, but before that tilting action can be effected, the screws 132 in the header .70, must be removed and also the screws 133, which pass down through'an extension of the air trunk, as shown at 134, into the top of a block, whichv is secured to the casing forming the air duct 13. I prefer, however, the construction shownin Fig. 8, bymeans of which the box 0) can be folded back without the necessity of removing any screws, as the break takes place between the air ducts on the linings or packings 10 and 135.

In Fig. 8 is also shown means for preserving a tight joint Where the parts meet in the neighborhood of the packing 135. The header 136 is movably. attached to the rear 137 of the box by means of screws 138, which pass loosely through holes in the header 136 and into the part 137, springs 139 said header 136 in contact with the packing 135. As the box '0 is folded backward slightly until stopped by the sc :ws

16. hen the box is folded down, tlc reverse action takes place, and-a tight joint is A braceor stick 123 is pivoted.

thus maintained.

Referring to Fig. 4, means will be seen for adjusting the piano action relatively to 140 represents main in said bottom after having been placed there. Each of these pushers rests upon a felt Washer 141, and is provided with a felt cap 142, slightly above the top of which is the enlarged head of an adjusting screw 143, one of these being threaded through each of the keys Thus the piano action may be removed through the front of the casing and the pneumatic box be removed from underneath the piano bottom ;without disturbing the pushers 140, and of surrounding said screws and normally keep- .mg

header 136 moves downward slightly untll stopped by the screws 138,'and "similarly the bracket or block 15 moves upit consists of a tends backward to course the parts may be assembled versal of this operation.

27 represents the ordinary soft pedal, which operates to shift the keyboard laterally in the usual manner.

by a re- 7 represents the loud pedal, which pro duces the usual effect in raising the dampers, but in the following manner. In other words, when the pedal 7' is depressed by the operator, it lifts the rod 144, Fig. 4, which in turn pushes up the inner end of the lever 145, which is pivoted at 146 to a bracket secured other end of the lever 145, which in turn depresses one end of the lever 148 pivoted near its centerat 149 to the inside of the right hand leg of the piano. The movement of the lever 148 in turn raises the rod 150, which passes through a hushed hole in the piano bottom, and terminates under the rail 151, which extends horizontally under the damper levers 152, a packing of felt 153 being interposed,'so that when therod 150 is elevated, the dampers will be lifted from the strings in the usual manner.

The pedal mechanism and the parts connected therewith will next be described.

The lyre it has on its rear side near the bottom thereof a bracket 154 provided with hearings in which is mounted a shaft 156 and 157 represent bent arms, the lower ends of which are mounted on said shaft, 158 representing bosses made integral with said arms 156 and 157' and secured to said shaft by-pins 159. The construction is substantially the same on both sides, and therefore only one will be described. The arm 157 has at its top a laterally extending eylindrical part 160 on which the pedal 161 is loosely mounted, a washer 162 keepingthe pedal in place thereof. The washer 162 is arranged so that when the parts'are folded down, as shown in Fig. 19, its flat portion will rest upon the floor, and the outer end of the arm 157 is similarly shaped so as to afford a firm bearing on the floor.- The pedal 161 is provided on its other end, as shown at the top in Fig. 2, with a hole for the reception of one end of a bent link 163, the other end of said link passing through a hole in the end of a link 164, which in turn is pivoted in the forked end of the hori zontal portion 166 of the lever 165. This lever is shown in side elevation in Figs. 4 and 19, and in front elevation in Fig. 2, and

horizontal portion 166 vided with a downwardly extending 167 and an angled portion 168, and a long power transmitting portion 169 arranged at right angles to the parts 166 and 168. The part 169 is journaled at one end in a bracket 170, Fig. 4, which is bolted, or otherwise secured to the rear of the lyre and exabout the center of the The outer end of said stop pneumatic box 14.

to the key bottom. This depresses the i .by a pin 187 secured in the shaft portion 169 is pivoted in a bracket 171 screwed to the right leg. The part 168 of the lever 165 is provided with a horizontal extension 172, on the reduced portion of which a vertical rod 173 is fitted, being secured thereon by a pin 174. This rod eittends up through the casing and contacts with the under part of the projection. 11 on one of the pumpers.

The operating means for the left hand pusher is substantially the same except that to the part 172 there is secured a bent rod, preferably of steel, 17 5, which rod, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, passes first upward, then outward, then upward, then inward, then upward again, and near its upper end is fastened to a block 176 having a felt cushion 177, which contacts with the under face of one of the pumpers. The rod 173 is similarly provided with a felt top or cushion.

In the position shown. in Fig. 2, the pod als are locked up, and the means for releasing them are best shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 19. 178 represents a key slip pivoted. to the front of the key bottom of the piano, and extending backwardly therefrom is a rod 1.79, the outer end of which is pivoted to said key slip, and the inn a end of which is bent down, as shown at 180. The rod or arm 179 is located at the left hand end of the piano, and the lower down turned end of this arm is pivoted to the upwardly extending arm 181 on the shaft 182, which runs across-the front of the piano and terminates near the middle of the lyre in an outwardly projecting lever arm 183, the outer end of which is located immediately above the top of a vertical rod 184. The rod 182 is secured to the bottom thereof in suitable bearings, 185. bearings secured and terminates in portion 186, which its lower end in a hooked is adapted-to be engaged Obviously, as long as the hook 186 engages the pin 187, the pedals cannot be folded down, but when the rod 184 is inoved. downwards this locking pedals are then positively forced outward by the tension of the spring 188, which coiled around the shaft 155. A. spring 169 normally keeps the rod 184 in its upper position, that is to say interlocked with the pin 18?.

The spring 188 performs two functions. As soon as the pedals are unlocked it forces them outwardly until the center of the hearing 160 is about in line vertically with the center of the shaft 155. Gravity then acts upon the pedals drawing them down, and the spring then resists the action of gravity and allows the pedals to slowly drop to the floor in the position shown in Fig. 19.' The engagement is broken, and the arm 156 is bent, as shown, in order to provide clearance around the inner end of. the pedal 161, which connects with the link 168. The links 163 and 164 and the arm 156have their bearing points so arranged and operthe frame above the sounding board, a casn-g above the key bed a pneumatic motor for actuating the music rolls secured in said casmg and provided with a controlling valve mechanism, pneumatic connections for the ative lengths so proportioned, that the pedi said motor, and a tempo lever secured to said als will automatically move from the folded position shown in Fig. 4: to the operative position shown in Fig. 19, the loci of the centers that move during this folding op eration being shown by broken lines.

By the construction described, it is obvious that the depression of the pedals 161 will, through the connections described, op-

erate the pumpers, thus operating the pneumatic portion of the piano. This skeleton form of construction of the pedals and their location, as shown in Fig. 1, that is to say, practically under the pneumatic box, when folded up, does not detract from the usual appearance of the piano.

On the bottom of the pneumatic box 14 is l a block 190, and on the rear of the lyre is a similar block 191, said, blocks being. eonnectedby an inclined raee192 for the purpose of stifiening the structure and resisting the thrust of the operators feet upon the pedals.

Referring now to Figs.

resents a depressible plunger Workingloosely through a bushed hole in the front of the key bottom and operating through various levers and links upon the 'rod 1%, which controls the choker valve 195 for the bass, and a similar pusher 196 controls in a simi lar manner the choking valves for the treble, and the lever 19? is arranged to depress both of these plungers simultaneously, if desired. 198 represents a lever, which, is pivoted to the framework of the piano, as at 198*.

The inner end of the lever 198 is connected I by a link 198 with the outer upper end of the lever 198 which is formed integral with the bearing portion 198,- Which is mounted in bearing blocks 198. .The bearing portion' 195: is bent at one end to form the lever ltlfl and the latteris bent to form the portion 198 which extends over the outer end 1457 of the lever 145. Hence when the handle end of the lever .198 is pulled to the right. in

mg the dampers by a part of the means already described, so that the loud efiect can that I do not-limit myself to the exact details shown in the drawings and set forth in the specification, but

\Vhat I claim is 1. In a self-playing grand piano, the combination'with the frame, horizontal sound ing board, key bed, and keys thereof, umping mechanism secured and supporte upon 2 and 7, 193 repl l I combination with Fig. 2, the part 198 depresses the outer end 14'? of the lever 145, thereby lift mechanism, substantially as described.

2. In a self-playing grand piano, the combinat-ion with the frame, horizontal sounding board, key -board, and keys thereof, pumping mechanism secured and supported upon the frame above thesounding board, a casing above the key bed a pneumatic motor for actuating the music rolls secured in said casing, and provided with a controlling valve mechanism, pneumatic connections for the said motor, and means for alternating the music roll actuating connections of the said motor, and a controlling handle therefor mounted in said casing, substantially asdescribed. v v

3. A self-playing grand piano, having in combination With the string frame and piano keys thereof, atracker board and music roll mechanism'a movable casing in which said mechanism is mounted, located above the said string frame,an actuating motor-there for, and controlling mechanism therefor, including a tempo lever mounted in said casing, substantially as described.

a. A self-playing grand iano, having in combination With a string rameand piano mechanism is mounted, located above the said string frame, an actuating motorthere-.

for, controlling mechanism therefor, and means for reversing the movement of the rolls-including a lever mounted in" said casing, substantially as described. Y Y

5. A self-playing'grand piano," having in combination- With the string frame a motor for actuating the music rolls, a movable casing in which 'saidrolls are mounted, located above the said string frame, and con-trolling mechanism for the said motor mounted in said casing, substantially'as described.

6. A self-playing grandpiano, having in the string frame a motor for actuating the music rolls, a movable casing in which. said rolls are-mounted, located above the said string frame, and controlling mechanism for the said motor mounted in said casing including a manually operated handle mounted in said casing, substantially as described.

7. 1%. self-playing grand piano having in combination with the string frame a motor for actuating the music rolls, a movable casing in which saidrolls are mounted, located above the said. string frame, and controlling mechanism for the said. motor mounted in said casing, including amanually'operated handle mounted in said casing, and means lzeys thereof, a trackerboard and music roll mechanism'a movable casing in Which saidthe said motor the said music rolls,nsubstantially as defor'altemating the driving connections from for reversing the actuation of scribed. 8. self-playing grand piano, having in combination With a string frame a motor for actuating the .music rolls, a movable casin in which said rolls are mounted, locate above said string frame, controlling mechanism for the said motor mounted in saidcasing, including a manually operated handle mounted in said casing, and means for alterna ting the driving connections from the said motor for reversing the actuation of the said music rolls, comprising a handle mounted in. said casing, substantially as described.

9. A self-playing grand piano, having in combination with a string frame a pneumatic motor, a movable casing-in which said motor is mounted, located above the said string frame, music rolls mounted in said casing, connections from the said motor, for actuating either one of the said music rolls, and manualmeans for controlling the said connections mounted in said casing, substantially as described.

10. A self-playing grand piano, combination- With the string frame a pneumatic' motor, :a movable casing in which said motor is mounted, located above said string having in .frame,-.m'usic rolls mounted in said casing,

connections from said motor for'actuating either one of the said music rolls, manual means for controlling the said connections mounted in said casing, and manual means for controlling the said casing, substantially as described.

11. A. self-playing grand piano, having in combination with a string frame va 'pneumatic motor, a movable motor ismounted, located above the said string frame, music rolls mounted in said casing, connections from the said motor for actuating either one of the music rolls, and

connections for controlling the said. mot-or mounted in said casing, said connections including a handle extending to the front of said casing, substantially as described.

12. A self-playing grand piano, having a hinged casing above the sounding board con taining the air trunk, pumps, motor, motor taining the said motor mounted in casing in which said eoigear governor, equalizer, tracker bar, and music rolls, substantially as described.

13. In a self-playing grand piano, a string frame and a hinged casing containing pneumatic mechanism located above said string frame in combinationavith latches for retaining said casing in place, substantiallyas described.

1 4.1% self-playing grand piano having a hinged casing above the sounding board con taining the air trunk, substantiallly as de scribed.

' 15. A s.elt-playing grand piano having a .hinged casing above the sounding board contaming the pump, substantially as described.

16. A self-playing grand piano having a a hinged casing above the sounding board conmotor governor, substantially as described.

17. A seltplaying grand piano having a hinged casing above the sounding board containin the equalizer, substantially as describe 18. In a self-playing grand piano, the combination of the pneumatic box with a valve chest located on the side of saidpnew matic box, and chokers located under the valve chest, substantially as described.

19. In a self-playing grand piano, the combination of a hinged casing, a motor governor therein having a movable bottom, connections tothe movable bottom of said governor, a phrasing lever,and means operated by themovementof said lever to actuate said connections in one direction or the other according to the movement of the lever, said meansbeing disconnected from said connec-.

tions so that the casing may be freely folded back, substantially as described. i '20. In a piano, at horizontally-disposed case and strings, a keyboard, and a Windingroll, a tracker and a music-sheet support mounted above said .lrcyboard and said strings and overlying the .tront portion of the string-supporting frame.

In testimony. whereof, I my signature, in presence of two Witnesses.

' JOHN W. DARLEY, JR.

Witnesses.

Geo. A. Brena, MYRON G..-GLEAR. 

